Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1887-11-22
TIE PlLGRlMS' THANKSGIVING.
How II Was Observed by Direction Of
Governor Bradford.

Governor Bradford.
The Pilgrim Fathers landed at Ply
mouth, as we all know, on Monday, Dec.
81, 1920.
Under favorable auspices the first har-
vest was gathered. With hearts of Joy
they secured the bountiful crop of Indian
corn which had ripenod in the fierce heats
of August and the warm haze OF Septem-
Der. AS they looked on the heaped up
storcs--thc first fruits of their toll in the
new land-their hearts swelled with
thankfulness that the Lord had SO merc-
fully cared for them, and that, though
sorcly smitten with pcstilence, they were
now blessed with health, peace and free
dom from the dread Of famine
Mindful of the Providence to whom
those blessings We're due those stern, bold
men were very devotionan. Governor
Bradford proclaimed solemn Thanhsgiv-
ing feast, and ordered that preparations
should be made for celebrating it with
such festivities rs were III their power.
Four men were dispatched into the woods
to shoot wild fowl, and though the GAM
had been scanty throughout the summer,
the quartet of sqogtsmea returned at NIGHT
Staggering under their burden e tHrEa -.
geese and pigeons sufficient to provision
the entire setticEont for q whole Wnr.1
HttS NJ 10 &c I-+-Ii Ni'''iC ~. t'iC -
Puritan danes, pluc,;ing and dressing tic
game, pounding Germ and baking it, set
ting out md polishing the tin and pewter
table ecrvices brought from England and
Holland, and scrubbing the wooden
trenchers that served the poorer pilgrims
in lieu of tin or pewter.
The roar of one of the great guns on the
hill top announced the commencement of
Thanksgiving. 1t WAS Thursday, Oct. 81,
a little less than one year after their ar
rival in Cape Cod bay. In the different
dwellings and over fires lit in the open mir
began the work of roasting and boiling
When ell had assembled the sergeant
stepped forward, and the men, three
abreast, with firearms shouldered,
marched orderly and silently toward the
meeting house. Behind came Governor
, Bradford in his long robe of Office, walk
ing 9ravely, as befittcd governor. On
his right hand walked tic venerable Ed
CT brewster il his preachers cloak, bear
ing the Bible rcyercntly in his hands. On
the governors left was tie military Chief
I OF TIE colony, Miles Standish his heavy
aTmor laid aside for short cloak, his
trusty sword at his side, and n small cane
/ in his hand as mark of Office. Proudly
he watched the firm tread, sturdy frames
/ and serviceable weapons Of the little troop
! before him, aud was half rcgrctful that
among the subjects for the days thanks
/ giving was the blessing Of peace with ali
the tribes about them. 1t was also pity
so many good musket3 should be used
! only in shooting wild fowl, so doubtless
he thought; for the sturdy little captain
was, as he had said, . man OF war, half of
| whose thirty seven years had been spent
in knocking about the world as n soldier
/ CT fortune.
The sermon of Elder Brewster was ap
propriate to the occasion. Never was iic
known to preach n better discourse or {
shorter one. though it would he thought
long enough now, particularly ii the
steam of roasting Meleagris gallopavt
tickled the nostril8 OF preacher and con
gregat on, as il did them.
IL WIS Thanksgiving dinner and n,
mistake about it, To be sure the table,
were of the rudest, and there was no
much display. nor We're there the man,
little delcacics that can often be fouuC
now on Thanksgiving tables. But tn
turkey was there in all his glory o
Drowned skin, rich FTavicS and palatabl
stuiIiing, and so were a number of othe
birds, great and small. roasted and boiie,
and baked over the embers. There wa
corn bread and hominy and puddinys
and several lttle nicknacks such as skillfu
housewives could make tip of the mate
rails at hand Nor were the tables alto